Improvement in vehicle-springs



Ao. FrsH'oEMAKER. vVehicles-Spring.

NQ.; 209,988. Patenfeduov-f19. .1878."

-N-PETEIS, PHQTKLUTHOGRAFIQER, WASHINGTON. Il4 C.

" Nrrnn Srrrinrsy PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. SHOEMAKER, CLEVELAND, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN VEHICLE-SPRINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 209,988, dated November19, 1878; application led September 30, 1878.

To all whom fit may concern.- A

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. SHOE- MAKER, of Cleveland, in the countyof Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Carriage-Sprin gs, of which the following is a description, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of thisspecification, in

v which- Figure l is a side view of the spring. Fig. 2 is an end view.Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken through the line @c Fig. 4 is adetached section.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several viewspresented.

This invention is a coupling for connecting the ends of an ellipticspring together, and which consists of a shell or thimble, to be slippedon over the two ends of the spring, said ends being so bent as to adaptthem to the hollow of the thimble, wherein they are secured by a pin orbolt passing through said thimble and bent ends of the spring.

For a more full understanding of the invention, reference will be had tothe following detailed description thereof.

The ends of the upper and lower leaves of an elliptic spring are usuallyconnected to each other by forming a pair of ears on the end of voneleaf of the spring, and an eye on the other adapted to tit between theears alluded to. The two parts are then secured by a bolt passed throughthe ears and eye of the joint. This mode of connecting the two ends ofthe spring requires much care and skill to make, and is thereforeexpensive.

To avoid this expense, and at the same time secure a durable union ofthe two parts, is the purpose of this invention, and this isaccomplished by forming at the ends of the leaves A and B of the springa curve, C. This curving of the ends is done without reducing thethickness of the metal, the ends being simply placed in a form and bentso that it may iit around the pin or bolt D, thereby retaining the fullthickness and strength of the metal. Over the two ends thus bent ,(ontheir being placed together) is slipped the thimble or shell E. Saidthimble consists of a short tube having a solid closed end, with acentral perforationfor the pin, as shown in Figf/l, representing an endview of the thimble o shell.

The thimble is not entirely round, there being an opening lengthwise onone side for the admission of the leaves A and B of the spring,

in the curved ends of the leaves, thereby obi taining for the said endsa firm and secure abutment, on which to rest and sustain the end thrustof the spring, which may be composed of more or less number of leaves,as the strength of the spring may require.

It will also be observed that the thimble does not t closely around theends of the spring, there being a narrow annular space between thethimble and the ends to allow a free movement thereof on a compressionofthe spring; hence there can be no binding or cramping of the ends inthe thimble.

The central portion of the leaves of the spring is fullered, as shown inthe figure C, inclosed by Fig. 1, which represents a transverse sectionofthe spring, taken through the middle.

- Itis not essential that the spring be fullered, as alluded to.

This spring is intended especially for wagon-seats. The leaves of suchsprings are usually connected to each other by turning the end of oneleaf around that of the other, to form the union of the two parts. Thatthis may be done the ends of the leaves are rolled down thin andtapering, that they may be easily bent, and not make the end or head toolarge and clumsy. This thinning of the vmetal weakens it at the ends,thereby reducing the strength of the spring.

the spring, having the ends curved and of equal thickness with that ofthe rest part of the spring, as herein described, and for the purposespecied.

CEAS. F. SEOEMAKER.

Witnesses J. H. BURRIDGE, A. F. PARKER.

